Workplace ESL classes have become an important strategy to increase employee engagement for Grand Rapids Chair, with excellent results over more than eight years of partnership with the Literacy Center of West Michigan.
Thanks to FOX17 West Michigan for featuring our Family Literacy program and partnership with Kentwood Public Schools in this article:
Kentwood parents learn English to better connect with their kids' schools
Lesvia first enrolled in English classes with the Literacy Center in 2012, attending sessions held at her child’s elementary school. Since then, she has remained an active learner—building her English skills year after year while also becoming a steady leader in her school community.
The Literacy Center of West Michigan was pleased to have its partnership with Corewell Health featured on this issue of WGVU's Mutually Inclusive television show. Click here to watch!
The Literacy Center of West Michigan is pleased to publish Learner Spark, Issue No. 3, now available as a free PDF download. Learner Spark is a learner-written magazine that shares original stories from adult learners across Literacy Center programs. The writing reflects learners’ lived experiences and is published in their own words as part of ongoing literacy development.
When Alexandra arrived in West Michigan from Haiti, she carried with her something powerful: a commitment to caring for others.
The Literacy Center of West Michigan is honored to be named 2025 Partner of the Year by West Michigan Works!.
Tabo is a participant in the MI Impact program at the Literacy Center, a contextualized English and healthcare career training program in partnership with Corewell Health.
At the Literacy Center of West Michigan, we help adults build the literacy and language skills they need to reach their goals. The Learner Spark is one way we celebrate that growth—it's our in-house magazine written by learners, for learners. Each story highlights the goals, challenges, and achievements of our learners in their own words. Read Olesya’s story here:
When Jorge arrived from Cuba, he had a degree in electrical engineering but limited English. After taking Workplace English classes through his company, he advanced from the foundry floor to the R&D lab—eventually becoming Lab Manager.
Discover how our Family Activity Nights and Mornings foster meaningful connections, empower learners, and celebrate the joy of literacy in our diverse community.
The Literacy Center of West Michigan, in partnership with the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE), invites you to join us in celebrating National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, September 16-20, 2024.
WEST MICHIGAN – Today, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) announced more than $1 million of the $15 million MI Impact Grant program was awarded to Literacy Center of West Michigan. The grant, made available to Michigan’s large nonprofits who provide programming to lift people out of poverty, will allow the nonprofit to expand employment and training services to build a more skilled workforce in Kent County.
The National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) today announced the Literacy Center of West Michigan is the lead partner in creating a 60x30 Family Learning Community in West Michigan. In the months ahead, the Literacy Center of West Michigan will work with the NCFL, local families and more than 20 community partners to align programmatic goals and coordinate efforts to provide family literacy, engagement and leadership opportunities to historically underserved and marginalized families within the community.
ZEELAND, Mich. – December 2, 2022 – The Literacy Center of West Michigan today announced the completion of an onsite Customized Workplace English program at global design leader MillerKnoll. The 15-week class reduced English language literacy as a barrier for 11 MillerKnoll associates by providing contextual English language instruction using a tailored curriculum based on their specific workplace.